Hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles will complete a combined 6,000km journey across Europe to converge in Hamburg tomorrow (25 October) to mark the expanding network of refuelling stations.
Thirteen vehicles starting in five countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Norway) will travel a combined 5,836km to reach the German city ahead of the Hydrogen for Clean Transport – H2ME Mid-Term Conference on 25th October.
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The journey will demonstrate the advantages of hydrogen mobility and motorway driving.
The road trip to Hamburg is possible following the expanding network of refuelling stations, in part due to funded installations from the pan-European Hydrogen Mobility Europe (H2ME) project, which assesses the technical and commercial readiness of vehicles, fuelling stations and hydrogen production techniques.
H2ME has funded the installation of 32 hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) across Europe to date, with a target of up to 49 by 2022.
The recently-launched European HRS Availability System, h2-map.eu, shows the location and live status of 137 HRSs, with more than half of these available in Germany.
The pan-European road trip to Hamburg comprises 15 HRSs; international standards ensure compatibility between refuelling stations and vehicles and the refuelling process takes around three to five minutes, offering times comparable to conventional petrol or diesel cars.
As part of the H2ME project, hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles have travelled a combined distance of more than 11.6m km. The milestone comes following the deployment of more than 550 hydrogen vehicles for private and business use across the UK, Germany, France, Scandinavia and other European countries.
This is becoming possible as an increasing number of car manufacturers are making available new-generation hydrogen vehicles today, or planning to make hydrogen vehicles available in the near future.
The H2ME project has deployed partner FCEVs, including: the Toyota Mirai; Symbio’s new generation of the Renault Kangoo ZE; Honda’s second-generation FCEV; and Daimler’s new-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell. H2ME project partners, Audi and BMW have also announced plans for releasing small series hydrogen vehicles in the coming years.
In total, more than 1,400 FCEVs will be deployed by 2022.
Findings from the H2ME project will be announced at the Hydrogen for Clean Transport: H2ME Mid-Term Conference in Hamburg.
“I am excited to see this road trip happen, which will surely profit from the European HRS Availability System, our new tool that will help all car users identify existing refuelling stations and whether they are operational or not,” said Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) director, Bart Biebuyck.
“This information, which is openly available to any user, will eliminate any anxiety over a lack of infrastructure and enable drivers to opt for fuel cell vehicles.”
For her part, Hydrogen Europe president, Valerie Bouillon-Delporte added: “Hosting the Hydrogen for Clean Transport Conference in Germany is a natural step given the successful infrastructure roll-out. Today, there are 76 hydrogen refuelling stations across the country, and new stations opening every week.
“Hydrogen mobility and its related infrastructure, is also being adopted in Austria, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, to name a few. The market is getting ready and the technology is proving its reliability; just consider the 6,000 km driven across Europe to Hamburg.”
